Legal aid lawyers in Wellington

179 lawyers at 133 firms in Wellington can take legal aid cases. Their phone numbers are below. Legal aid helps pay for a lawyer if you can't afford one.

Not sure where to start? Read what to do first below, or call the Ministry of Justice legal aid line on 0800 253 425 (free, weekdays 8am to 5pm).

Get help nowSee the lawyers
Free to use
Every lawyer on the Ministry of Justice list
Checked 12 October 2026

What to do first

If you've been charged

  1. Apply for legal aid as soon as you're charged. Don't wait for your first day in court.
  2. On your first day in court, ask for the duty lawyer. It's free, and they can help you apply for legal aid.
  3. For most charges, the Ministry chooses your legal aid lawyer. For very serious charges (more than 10 years in prison), you can choose your own.
Read the full guide →

If it's a family matter

  1. Find a family legal aid lawyer first. Call a few from the list until one can take your case.
  2. Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid. Bring details of your income, savings, debts and anything you own.
  3. Bring any letters or court papers about your case, and your partner's income details if you have a partner.
Read the full guide →

If it's a civil matter

  1. Civil legal aid can cover things like ACC, problems at work, money and housing disputes.
  2. Find a civil legal aid lawyer first. Fewer lawyers do this work, so start calling early.
  3. Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid.
Read the full guide →

Legal aid in Wellington at a glance

  • 101 lawyers can take criminal legal aid cases, including the most serious charges (level 4 of 4).
  • 60 lawyers work as duty lawyers, the free help at court on your first day.
  • 33 lawyers give free advice to people held by the police.
  • 61 lawyers can take family legal aid cases, and 40 give family legal advice.
  • 83 lawyers can take civil legal aid cases, such as ACC or employment.
  • Some also take mental health (18), refugee and immigration (4), Māori Land Court (7), Waitangi Tribunal (22) cases.
  • Languages other than English: French (2), German (1), Hindi (1), Samoan (1), Te Reo Māori (1), Tongan (1).

Free help near Wellington

Free legal advice

Wellington & Hutt Valley Community Law

Wellington office · In Wellington

(04) 499 2928

Free legal help from lawyers, for people who can't afford one. Contact details and clinics

Free advice and forms

CAB Central Wellington

Ground Floor, 34 Manners Street, Wellington

In Wellington

04 370 2500

Walk in, call or email. They can help you understand forms and find the right service.

Duty lawyer

Wellington District Court

43 - 49 Ballance Street, Wellington

In Wellington

0800 268 787

On your first day in court, ask at reception for the duty lawyer. It's free if you don't have a lawyer.

Nearest by distance from the centre of Wellington. Checked 5 October 2026. Offices sometimes move, so call before you go.

Legal aid lawyers in Wellington, A to Z

Every lawyer the Ministry of Justice lists in Wellington, grouped by firm. Call to check they can take your case.

  • Adrian Olney - Barrister

    (04) 9795840

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Police station adviceCivil

    Adrian Stuart Olney

  • Alisdair Ross Barrister

    (027) 2370272

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyMental health

    Alisdair Martyn Patrick Ross

  • Andrew Butler Kc Barrister

    (04) 4600741

    1 legal aid lawyer

    CriminalCivil

    Andrew Stephen Butler KC

  • Anna Singleton - Barrister

    (021) 08492031

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Civil

    Anna Catherine Singleton

  • Antunovic Parkin Law

    (04) 4735111

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station advice

    Carrie Leah Parkin

  • Armstrong Thompson

    (04) 4736767

    2 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →

    Civil
    • Hazel Elizabeth Armstrong · Civil
    • Scott Benjamin Thompson · Civil

  • Asher Emanuel Barrister

    (021) 2155855

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Civil

    Asher Gabriel Emanuel

  • Awao Law

    (027) 3709742

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyer

    David Awao Mamanu'ala Rohorua

  • Bamford Law

    (021) 477 632

    1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →

    Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCivil

    Anthony John Dean Bamford

  • Barugh Law Limited

    (027) 3571665

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Civil

    Tyrone-Jay Barugh

  • Beatrix Woodhouse Barrister

    (027) 5113232

    1 legal aid lawyer

    CriminalFamilyCivilMental health

    Beatrix Halcyon Woodhouse

  • Bell And Co

    (027) 2869140

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Civil

    Andrew Robert Bell

  • Ben Keith, Barrister

    (04) 473 3133

    1 legal aid lawyer

    CriminalCivil

    Benjamin James Roy Keith

  • Bennion Law

    (027) 277 6751

    2 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →

    CivilMāori Land CourtWaitangi Tribunal
    • Emma Alize Whiley · Waitangi Tribunal · (027) 2019696
    • Thomas Hugh Bennion · Civil, Māori Land Court, Waitangi Tribunal

  • Blake Dawson - Barrister

    (04) 3812883

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station advice

    Blake James Dawson

  • Campbell Legal

    (04) 4720777

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyCivil

    Samuel William O'Driscoll Campbell

  • Capital Law

    (04) 3812234

    1 legal aid lawyer

    FamilyFamily legal adviceMental health

    Daryl William Strachan

  • Cathie Sheat - Barrister And Solicitor

    (04) 9700101

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal advice

    Cathie Sheat

  • Charlotte Brook Barrister

    (021) 0529525

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station advice

    Charlotte Anne Brook

  • Christopher Griggs, Barrister

    (04) 9141053

    1 legal aid lawyer

    CriminalCivilFrenchGerman

    Christopher John Griggs

  • Christopher Stevenson - Barrister

    (04) 4992600

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCivil

    Christopher William John Stevenson KC

  • Community Law - Wellington And Hutt Valley

    (04) 4992928

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Refugee & immigration

    Jacob Malcolm Donald Baxter

  • Cooper Legal

    (04) 4999025

    4 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →

    CriminalCivilMental health
    • Lydia Oosterhoff · Civil
    • Samantha Elizabeth Brown · Civil
    • Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell · Civil · (021) 488815
    • Sonja Maria Cooper · Criminal, Civil, Mental health

  • CS Law

    (06) 8826061

    2 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceCivil
    • Connie Lois Hyslop · Family
    • Imogen Julia Gautier Hensman · Criminal · up to level 2 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Family, Family legal advice, Civil · (04) 8300928

  • Cuba Family Law

    (04) 8015156

    1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →

    FamilyFamily legal adviceMental health

    Liz Jane Lewes

  • Daniel Vincent Barrister

    (021) 02263219

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceCivil

    Daniel David Vincent

  • Davis Legal

    (021) 250 8168

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerCivil

    Nick John Davis

  • Duncan Cotterill

    (027) 3096261

    1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →

    CriminalCivil

    Joshua Jordan Pietras

  • Edwina Smith Barrister

    (027) 3717809

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerSamoan

    Edwina Josephine Michelle Smith

  • Elizabeth Ann Hall - Barrister

    (04) 9399039

    1 legal aid lawyer

    Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCivil

    Elizabeth Ann Hall

Verified with the Ministry of Justice legal aid list on 12 October 2026. Lawyer details are from the Ministry of Justice, used under CC BY 4.0. We group them by firm and town and add links to firm pages. The Ministry of Justice decides who gets legal aid; Find A Lawyer is not part of the Ministry. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

By type of case in Wellington

Criminal legal aid lawyers in Wellington101 lawyers→Family legal aid lawyers in Wellington61 lawyers→Civil legal aid lawyers in Wellington83 lawyers→

Legal aid lawyers in nearby towns

Legal aid lawyers in Lower Hutt52 lawyers · 14 km→Legal aid lawyers in Porirua15 lawyers · 18 km→Legal aid lawyers in Pukerua Bay1 lawyer · 30 km→Legal aid lawyers in Upper Hutt11 lawyers · 31 km→Legal aid lawyers in Paraparaumu6 lawyers · 46 km→Legal aid lawyers in Featherston1 lawyer · 50 km→

All legal aid lawyers in Wellington →

Not sure who'll take your case?

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